July 01, 2003U.S. Military Blog Archives |
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Air Force to Eliminate Cycle Fitness Test by 2004Yesterday, the Air Force Chief of Staff, General John P. Jumper released a memo, stating that the Air Force plans to eliminate the controversial Cycle Ergometry Fitness Test by January 2004.With the exception of basic training and technical training schools, the Air Force has used the cycle-test in their annual physical fitness examinations for the past 10 years. The cycle test replaced the annual 1.5 mile run requirement. According to the memo, the "Ergo-Cycle" test will be replaced by running, sit-ups, and pushups, very similar to the physical fitness tests used by the other services. 01:31 PM # Cold War Certificates Still AvailableArmy personnel officials are reminding people that Cold War Recognition Certificates are still available for service members, veterans and federal employees who served between Sept. 2, 1945 and Dec. 26, 1991.Since the certificates were authorized in Fiscal Year 1998, only about one million out of the estimated 22 million eligible have requested the certificate. The Army has created a Cold War Certificate Web Site for individuals desiring more information. 09:59 AM # Burial at SeaBurial at Sea is a means of final disposition of remains that is performed on United States Navy vessels. Under the Navy program, the next-of-kin of deceased military active duty members, veterans of the uniform services (with an honorable discharge), retirees, and family members of active duty and retirees, can request that their loved-one be buried at sea.08:21 AM # Coast Guard Special Missions TrainingThe United States Coast Guard Special Missions Training Center has the difficult task of taking your everyday Coast Guardsman whose background is law enforcement or a job in the mechanic field and making him or her think about topics such as locating, closing with, and destroying the enemy.11:37 AM # Army Mountaineering TrainingThe two-week course at the Warfare Training Center in Alaska, consists of lessons in mountain land navigation, fixed rope rappelling and belaying, top rope climbing, knot tying, rope management, and movement over snow and ice. The students must successfully complete two written tests – one on land navigation and a comprehensive final exam – as well as pass mountain stakes, the hands-on test, to graduate the course.02:01 PM # Jessica Lynch Goes Home with Bronze Star Former prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch waved goodbye July 22 to the medical staff that had treated her for more than three months as she boarded an Army Black Hawk helicopter at Walter Reed's Forest Glen annex.Lynch, the first of the rescued prisoners of war from Operation Iraqi Freedom, was finally headed home to West Virginia. She arrived in Elizabeth, W.Va., Tuesday afternoon, spoke briefly to the media, and then was taken in a motorcade to her hometown of Palestine. Monday at Walter Reed, Lt. Gen. James B. Peake, the Army surgeon general, awarded Lynch the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War medal during a ceremony in the hospital. 01:03 PM # Air Force Plans to Restructure in 2004The Air Force has developed a restructure plan for fiscal year 2004 that will result in the elimination of 5,099 military and civilian positions. The plan, when implemented will result in the reduction of 2,260 military authorizations and 2,839 civilian authorizations, and 1,055 drill authorizations.In reference to manpower authorizations, "military" equates to full-time active duty, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), or Air National Guard (ANG) authorizations. "Drill" indicates part-time AFRC or ANG authorizations. "Civilian" refers to federal civil service, AFRC technician, or ANG technician authorizations. 12:39 PM # Army Announces Iraq Deployment ScheduleGen. Jack Keane (acting Army Chief of Staff) said that most units deploying to Iraq over the next few months can expect stays of up to one year when he announced the unit rotation schedule July 23.11:26 AM # FY 2004 Military Pay Raise ChartsA couple of weeks ago, I published the proposed Fiscal Year 2004 Military Pay Charts. Like the previous few years, this year's military pay raise includes "targeted" raises. That means some ranks will receive a higher percentage pay raise than other ranks. Here are the specific raise percentages for desigated ranks/time-in-service groups.11:42 AM # Marine Corps Enlisted Promotion SystemContinuing our multi-part series about the enlisted promotion systems of the United States Armed Forces.In this part, what it takes to get promoted as an Enlisted Marine. Don't miss parts 1 and 2, the Army Enlisted Promotion System, and Air Force Enlisted Promotion System, respectively. 06:56 PM # U.S. Deploys 41 Marines to U.S. Embassy in MonroviaAt the request of the U.S. Ambassador in Monrovia, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld has ordered additional security personnel to the United States embassy. The Secretary has ordered the dispatch of up to an additional 41 FAST (Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team) members from Rota, Spain to Monrovia.Meanwhile, according to a story on Fox News, the U.S. Embassy in Liberia's capital was hit by mortar fire today, as the 41 Marines arrived. 12:06 PM # Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation TeamsEver wonder how wounded Soliders, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines get from the Gulf to one of the large medical treatment facilities in Germany? Say hello to the Air Force Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Team.The AFEAET is a specialized team whose primary work center is the cabin or cargo hold of an airplane flying several miles high. 10:31 AM # Air Force Combat Controller TrainingCombat controllers set up air traffic control and perform close air support in remote locations. And it takes some time to groom them — more than 24 months from start to finish. Trainees go from basic to advanced special operations skills. Physical, mental and emotional toughness are essential.01:27 PM # Army Releases Findings From 507th AmbushThe Army released a 15-page report on 17 July stating that members of the 507th Maintenance Company fought the best they could in Iraq until there was no longer a means to resist.Elements of the Fort Bliss maintenance company became an American interest when a navigational error caused them to come under attack March 23 in the city of An Nasiriyah. According to an article from the Army News Service, the report states that of the 33 soldiers in the 18-vehicle convoy, six soldiers returned fire while moving and were able to maneuver their vehicles through the ambush and rejoin friendly forces. 12:33 PM # Senate Approves $368.6 Billion Military Spending BillBy a unanimous vote of 95 to 0, the Senate approved most of the Bush Administrations request for military funding for Fiscal Year 2004.According to an article on Fox News, the legislation includes funding for the Army's new Stryker Brigade (a highly mobile force built around an agile wheeled vehicle), nine V-22 Osprey Aircraft, and 22 F-22 stealth fighters. Also included is funding for a military pay raise, averaging 4.15 percent. 12:16 PM # Marine Corps Scout Sniper Training Due to the nature of the sniper's mission, they must be trained mentally and physically to operate independently forward of friendly positions on the battlefield. The Marine Scout Sniper School trains, not only Marines, but members of the other military services, as well. The Marine Corps Scout Sniper Course is broken down into three phases. The first involves land navigation and marksmanship. The second phase covers stalking techniques, field skills and call for fire rehearsals. The last encompasses everything from communication to surveillance performance. (Official USMC Photo) 02:01 PM # VA Benefits Could Expand for Former POWsPresident Bush has proposed legislation to Congress that would improve benefits for former prisoners of war, responding to the needs of Operation Iraqi Freedom POWs. According to an article in the American Forces News Service, the new legislation will make it easier for former Prisoners of War to apply for Veterans Administration Disability Compensation, and eliminate pharmacy co-payments for non-service connected medical conditions.01:25 PM # Transitioning and FearsMany transitioning military feel a need to cover all contingencies before proceeding with an action or plan. This may appear to reflect reasonable caution and planning. Actually, it can stall a person to the point of getting nowhere. Part 7 of the continuing series, Life After the Military.08:49 AM #
When I was the First Sergeant of an Air Force Fighter Squadron, I would often tease the pilots by telling them that sometime in the future, their job would be replaced by a 12-year old kid, with a joystick, flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), from the safety of the ground, several hundreds of miles away. Of course, the pilots didn't wish to hear this, which would often make my day. |
After nearly eight years of design and construction, the United States Navy commissioned their newest aircraft carrier, on Saturday, June 12th.
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